We popped up to Berghaus Towers in the not very sunny north east
for a quick glimpse into the future yesterday in the shape of a
preview of the company's spring / summer 2006 range.
It's stuff that's due out in the shops around February time next
year, but we've also thrown in a couple of items that'll be out there
in the stores in just a couple of months time. We've marked those
very clearly though, anything else is for next year.
There's some interesting stuff too.... Clothing to follow in a
separate article.
The packs chaps have been good and busy recently, following on from
the innovative Bioflex system, they've tuned their attention to waht
they're calling 'Mountain Sports' with four new day packs aimed at
all round use from biking through to the urban jungle.
The Bladdered Plus is, as you might have guessed, a
development of the existing Bladdered hydration pack. It caters for
anyone who found the Bladdered a bit too small and has a capacity of
12 + 5 litres. It's positively overflowing with features, but the one
we really like the look of is the return of the excellent Limpet
compression system first used on the old Nitro pack.
Limpet pulls a compressing cover in at hips and shoulders and is
the most effective, non-bounce system we've ever used. The updated
version uses a detachable rear pocket to cinch down the main
compartment . Also featured are numerous pockets, fold-away hip-fins,
a helmet carrier and the option of carrying not one but two two-litre
bladders thanks to an extra external access pocket.
We'd prefer to see a three-litre capacity option, but that may yet
happen before full production. Should make a good running or biking
hydration pack and will retail for around £45.
The Limpet system makes a reappearance on another new sac as well.
The Vice at £50 is a 'pimped-up Nitro for the new
millennium' it says here ;-) The Nitro had a great compression
system, but access issues which the Vice looks to solve wtih more
pockets plus a whopping great, easy-to-use single zip access to the
main compartment.
The compression net of the Nitro's Limpet system has been replaced
with a laminated Nylon compressor which does the same job, but
arguably looks neater. You get a hydration facility too,
butch-looking Hypalon attachment points - they make Zodiac dinghies
from the stuff - and a new Attack back system with extra air channels
for high tempo use.
If it works as well as the Nitro but is easier to get stuff in and
out of, it should be a great fast-movers pack.
There are two other more general use packs in the range in the
form of the entertainingly named Doom and the Rival 30.
Both are multi-use packs with modern looks and are aimed to be at
home on the hill and in the urban environment too. Women get more
women's specific Freeflow options as well.
Right Here, Right Now, almost...
One interesting new pack that'll be in the shops towards the end
of the summer is the new Duel. It's a 35-litre,
top-spec climbing sac aimed at those who found the 45 plus 10 litre
Cragsac too large.
The Duel is smaller and neater, but also does away with the
conventional top pocket arrangement of the Cragsac in favour of a
great big main compartment zip opening for instant access to your
rack and other kit. You also get compression straps, gear loops on
the hip fins plus all the other technical attachments you might want.
Standard weight is 1500 grammes, but it can be stripped down to a
1000 gramme more minimal form. Price is £60.
The footwear pixies haven't been slacking either and there are a
couple of really neat-looking new products on the way.
The first thing that caught our eye was the Scourge shoe.
It's one of a raft of low-cut approach shoes, but what makes it
really stand out is a combination of the styling and the use of
Vibram sticky rubber on the sole unit for maximum grip on technical
ground like scrambles and Via Ferrata.
The sole pattern incorporated little sucker roundels aimed at
giving a good combination between rock grip and contact and adhesion
on more normal terrain to maximise the usefulness of the sticky
rubber.
You also get rockboot-style exagerated asymmetrical lacing to both
give a more precise, rockboot-type fit and allow, it says here, 'a
larger contact area on the instep making it much harder to lose grip
walking sideways or up and down hills. The uppers use hard-wearing
Cordura and feature toe and heel rands for durability.
Finally, a stiffened mid-sole plate is designed to give good
edging performance to go with the adhesion. Usually the stumbling
block is the EVA cushioning compound, but Berghaus has opted for a
very stiff EVA in strategic areas to firm things up and minimise roll
off edges.
We really like the look of these and reckon they could be a
cracking scrambling shoe with potential for approach use and easy
mountain routes too. Priced at 60 quid.
That's enough scrambling shoes for now. The walking boot range has
been tweaked as well. The most notable new model is the Moreno
GTX which is pretty much a ligher version of the well-received
GR20 trekking boot with, surprise, surprise, a Gore-Tex lining.
Using a suede / Cordura upper and a different Vibram sole unit,
it's claimed to save around 100 grammes per boot compared to the GR20
- 700 grammes against 800 grammes - and is intended for three-season
use and trekking. Price will be £120. The pic below is
the Moreno Leather GTX btw with Nubuck leather and Gore-Tex
liner.
Also interesting, particularly if you're not keen on waterproof
liners in boots is the stander Moreno Leather which is
Cambrelle lined, a la Scarpa, and weighs roughly the same as the GTX.
It should be significantly more comfortable in hot conditions and
will sell for £100 in minimalist black.
Elsewhere there's a leather version of the Explorer rambling-type
boot called the Explorer Leather and a great looking range of proper
walking boots for kiddies complete with proper Vibram soles and
hardwearing, supportive uppers. There are junior approach shoes too
and it's good to see a company acknowledging that youngsters put
their feet through hell and need proper, tough, supportive footwear
as much as we do...
Right Here, Right Now, almost...
One new boot that will be in the shops in a month or two is the
new full-on winter technical boot, the Kibo GTX. Like other
Berghaus boots it's available in men's and women's version and it's
the first time the company's produced a technical mountaineering
boot.
It's a relatively lightweight winter climbing boot using suede,
Schoeller, Keprotec and Lorica high tech materials for the upper
married to a Vibram sole. Rands offer extra upper protection and a
double tongue promises good fit, comfort and insulation.
The boot is B2 graded, which means it will take a heel-clip
crampon, but not a full step-in version. Weight is a claimed 910
grammes per boot in size 42.
For information on the current Berghaus range see
www.berghaus.com
Alex. I just bounce.
